How to get to the Komodo Islands & Insider Tips

The gateway town to Komodo National Park is Labuan Bajo (LBJ) town. Labuan Bajo Airport is the gateway to Komodo National Park, serving both domestic and international flights.

From Labuan Bajo town, Komodo National Park is just a 2-hour boat ride away. All the Komodo boat tours will depart from Labuan Bajo town.

The most common way to reach Labuan Bajo (LBJ) airport is via daily domestic flights from Bali or Jakarta. Both of which have multiple flights a day to LBJ.

Flights via Bali are only 1h 10 mins while flying via Jakarta will take 2h 30 mins.

Flying via Bali is the more popular choice because travellers will usually pair their Komodo trip with a couple of days in Bali.

AirAsia now offers direct flights from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Labuan Bajo (LBJ), the gateway to Komodo National Park, starting September 3, 2024!

Flights operate thrice weekly (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays) at 11:10 AM, reaching LBJ in just 3 hours 15 minutes. Round-trip fares start from an affordable 750 MYR/230 SGD/170 USD.

This is a great option for those who want to maximize their Komodo adventure without a Bali stopover. Travelers from Singapore can also benefit, flying SIN-KUL-LBJ for as low as 390 SGD round-trip, often cheaper and more convenient than the Bali route.

There are a couple of companies that offer boat trips from Lombok-Komodo (and vice versa).

The Lombok to Komodo boat trip is known for whale shark sightings, but Seek Sophie doesn't offer it due to unethical and unsustainable practices. Local operators feed the sharks, which disrupts their natural migration and feeding patterns, making them dependent on humans. Tourists also get close for selfies, which is harmful as it disrupts the sharks' natural behaviour and increases the risk of poaching.

We strongly advise against supporting these activities.

Komodo National Park offers two main types of boat tours: join-in tours lasting 1-3 days and customizable private tours. When planning your trip, be sure to book your boat tour before your flight.

For join-in tours, arrive at least one day before your tour's departure and plan your return flight for at least one day after it ends. Keep in mind that one-day tours operate daily, but 3-day/2-night tours typically depart only on Fridays and are unavailable during the rainy season (January-March).

Private tours offer more flexibility, as the boat schedule can be tailored to your flights. However, it's still essential to confirm your tour dates and times with your host before booking your flights to ensure that you have secured your dream trip!

If you're planning on diving, remember that you can only fly 24 hours after your last dive. If you have some extra time, consider exploring the gorgeous caves in Labuan Bajo before your flight home!

Flights from Bali or Jakarta are three times every day, though you should aim to arrive a day before your boat tour and leave at least a day after your boat tour.

One day Komodo boat trip: These depart every day at 5:30am. So if you're flying from Bali or Jakarta, make sure to fly in the day before!

3D2N join-in Komodo boat trip: These only depart on Fridays at 10am, so you should fly in on Thursday. A handful will also depart on Mondays, but that's usually the exception. If you're flying from Bali, you can technically take the earliest same day flight via AirAsia (8:20am arrival). However, this is risky if there are flight delays/baggage issues.

3D2N private Komodo boat trip: Private trips have a flexible departure date, so you can fly in on any day, just make sure it's one day before your trip.

Tip: Boats fill up fast! We recommend booking your Komodo boat trip at least 2 months in advance.

International flights from Kuala Lumpur International Airport to Labuan Bajo only operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with an arrival time of 2:25pm.

You should fly in at least one day before your Komodo boat trip and flying out the day after your boat trip.

One day Komodo boat trip: These depart every day, so you can fly in the day before your boat trip.

3D2N join-in Komodo boat trip: The join-in Komodo boat tours only depart on Fridays each week (and they don't depart in rainy season from January to March). So time your flight accordingly!

The 4D3N boats from Lombok-Komodo depart every Sunday, Monday and Thursday. The first half of the journey will take you from North Lombok and pass Saleh Bay where the whale sharks are. The second half of the journey is when you'll be exploring the Komodo Islands.

However, we strongly advise against booking this due to its unethical whale shark feeding practices which disrupts their natural behaviour. Tourists also tend to get too close to the sharks.

That's the basics of how you should be thinking of planning your Komodo trip!

If you're wondering when's the best time to go, about national park fees, if drones are allowed, what else is there to do in LBJ, check out our Cheat Sheet to Planning a Trip to Komodo Islands and 11 Cool Things To Do in Labuan Bajo.

Ready to book your epic Komodo Islands boat trip? Check out all the Komodo experiences here!